Pablo Zabaleta as a DM?

[cheddar404]

I don't get this "things aren't going well so let's try X player in Y position." Zabaleta would do a decent job anywhere I'm sure. He's a great lad and an underestimated player but why would you play him instead of NDJ who is an expert in this position? The failings that people perceive Nige to have (slows the play down, only passes sideways etc) would not be rectified by Zabaleta.

 

[seppy]

Put simply, Zab is exactly the kind of player that a title challenging squad needs.

 

[the goats backside]

If people remember rightly Zab played there well before RM arrived, we bought better players to do that job. I still think Zab is very under rated at right back. It really has been slag Jongie off week, just remember when he plays a very important role in the Euros

 

[Love_Each_Day]

He's had some really good games as a midfielder, Wigan at home when we were down to 10, first leg of the carling cup derby semi and a few games in the UEFA/Europa. Only worry I'd have would be his positioning as a centre mid in our usual formation, in a midfield 3 it wouldn't matter so much.

 

[Matt the Giant]

I don't get this "things aren't going well so let's try X player in Y position." Zabaleta would do a decent job anywhere I'm sure. He's a great lad and an underestimated player but why would you play him instead of NDJ who is an expert in this position? The failings that people perceive Nige to have (slows the play down, only passes sideways etc) would not be rectified by Zabaleta.

Nigel may be an expert in his position, but such expertise is growing more and more redundant to us, and the type of DM we need is of a different type than Nigel. I asked my original question cause in my humble (and possibly groundless) opinion I thought Zab could do that job for us, seeing as he has the qualities I would think was required.

I agree with what many have pointed out though, that positioning might be his biggest weakness in such a role, which would make him a risk played in that position.

 

[beast]

Zabs an Alan Oakes, great guy committed to the club, popular, dependable, would give us heart and soul for a shirt, for me to compare him to my all time favourite city player tells you that this guy would run through brick walls for this club, he is becoming undervalued, bet their isn't a premier club that wouldn't have him.

Love the guy to bits but sorry mate he aint going to get into any top six side on a reg basis

Doesn't he play quite regularly for Manchester city?

Fuck!

 

[blueprint]

Zab is also equally adept on the left and on the right flank.

Zab is IMO on par with Mascherano.

He convinced me when he took the ginger princk to the cleaners.
He is a warrior. The battle scars attest to that.

He can advance to join the attack and have the football nous to snuff out threats .

Yes he can ply the DM position.

We should ask is why is Zab 'crowded' out of having an opportunity to play in the central midfield position?

 

[grim up north]

Zab is also equally adept on the left and on the right flank.

Zab is IMO on par with Mascherano.

He convinced me when he took the ginger princk to the cleaners.
He is a warrior. The battle scars attest to that.

He can advance to join the attack and have the football nous to snuff out threats .

Yes he can ply the DM position.

We should ask is why is Zab 'crowded' out of having an opportunity to play in the central midfield position?

Lol

 

[cheddar404]

I don't get this "things aren't going well so let's try X player in Y position." Zabaleta would do a decent job anywhere I'm sure. He's a great lad and an underestimated player but why would you play him instead of NDJ who is an expert in this position? The failings that people perceive Nige to have (slows the play down, only passes sideways etc) would not be rectified by Zabaleta.

Nigel may be an expert in his position, but such expertise is growing more and more redundant to us, and the type of DM we need is of a different type than Nigel. I asked my original question cause in my humble (and possibly groundless) opinion I thought Zab could do that job for us, seeing as he has the qualities I would think was required.

I agree with what many have pointed out though, that positioning might be his biggest weakness in such a role, which would make him a risk played in that position.

definitely not a groundless opinion. I'm sure he'd do a decent job there but i'm not sure he's the answer. Nige is still an important member of our squad but now that we really have to go for it, i'd like to see barry as our defensive midfield option as he can defend but offers more going forward.

 

[blueprint]

Did Zab captained Team Argentina?